Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BEIJING3896
2007-06-08 12:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
STUDENTS RIOT IN ZHENGZHOU OVER BEATING OF
how-toVZCZCXRO9841 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #3896 1591245 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 081245Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8800 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003896
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2032
TAGS: PGOV SOCI PHUM CH
SUBJECT: STUDENTS RIOT IN ZHENGZHOU OVER BEATING OF
SCHOOLGIRL VENDOR
REF: FBIS CPP20070608715005
Classified By: Acting Political Internal Unit Chief Dan Kritenbrink.
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 003896
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2032
TAGS: PGOV SOCI PHUM CH
SUBJECT: STUDENTS RIOT IN ZHENGZHOU OVER BEATING OF
SCHOOLGIRL VENDOR
REF: FBIS CPP20070608715005
Classified By: Acting Political Internal Unit Chief Dan Kritenbrink.
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) More than 1,000 students rioted in Zhengzhou, Henan
Province on the evening of June 6 over the beating by city
inspectors of a female vendor who was a student at a local
university, according to international and Chinese media
reports on June 8 (see Ref A). The situation spiraled out of
control as throngs of students rushed to the scene to
confront the inspectors, some of whom were allegedly drunk.
Clashes later developed between students and the large
numbers of police called to the scene, with students
eventually dispersing late in the evening of June 6. The
internet played a key role in disseminating information on
the rampage, with eyewitnesses sharing first-hand accounts
and photos with netizens in real time. According to Xinhua
news reports, the Zhengzhou City Government announced on June
7 that it had responded to the incident by calling a
late-night meeting to quickly investigate and deal with the
matter, resulting in two inspectors being dismissed and six
others detained by police.
2. (C) A local Embassy contact told Emboff that police never
gained complete control of the crowd of angry students, many
of whom were incensed by the way city inspectors "pick on"
poor students who must hock wares (illegally) in order to pay
their way through school. The number of rampaging students
numbered "in the thousands," he said, and several police
vehicles were "held hostage" by the crowd before eventually
being released peacefully. Once students decided to
disperse, they quickly left the scene, with no lingering
fallout apparent afterward. Reinforcing this last point, wo
other contacts at a university located on he other side of
Zhengzhou claimed on June 8 tey had not even heard of the
melee.
PICCUTA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2032
TAGS: PGOV SOCI PHUM CH
SUBJECT: STUDENTS RIOT IN ZHENGZHOU OVER BEATING OF
SCHOOLGIRL VENDOR
REF: FBIS CPP20070608715005
Classified By: Acting Political Internal Unit Chief Dan Kritenbrink.
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) More than 1,000 students rioted in Zhengzhou, Henan
Province on the evening of June 6 over the beating by city
inspectors of a female vendor who was a student at a local
university, according to international and Chinese media
reports on June 8 (see Ref A). The situation spiraled out of
control as throngs of students rushed to the scene to
confront the inspectors, some of whom were allegedly drunk.
Clashes later developed between students and the large
numbers of police called to the scene, with students
eventually dispersing late in the evening of June 6. The
internet played a key role in disseminating information on
the rampage, with eyewitnesses sharing first-hand accounts
and photos with netizens in real time. According to Xinhua
news reports, the Zhengzhou City Government announced on June
7 that it had responded to the incident by calling a
late-night meeting to quickly investigate and deal with the
matter, resulting in two inspectors being dismissed and six
others detained by police.
2. (C) A local Embassy contact told Emboff that police never
gained complete control of the crowd of angry students, many
of whom were incensed by the way city inspectors "pick on"
poor students who must hock wares (illegally) in order to pay
their way through school. The number of rampaging students
numbered "in the thousands," he said, and several police
vehicles were "held hostage" by the crowd before eventually
being released peacefully. Once students decided to
disperse, they quickly left the scene, with no lingering
fallout apparent afterward. Reinforcing this last point, wo
other contacts at a university located on he other side of
Zhengzhou claimed on June 8 tey had not even heard of the
melee.
PICCUTA